Love of sports

Whatever the code, the Irish are mad about their sports ! Whether its rugby, football (soccer) or Gaelic football, if there is a match being played you will be guaranteed the Irish will be watching it ! For an extra great time try to catch any national game at the pub with the locals, there is no such thing as having a bad time watching sport (unless their team is losing, of course, and then it would be best to vacate the area quietly ! Just kidding). Otherwise, organise a sports night with your colleagues or co-workers at your internship accommodation.

Local cuisine

Ireland is famous for producing a beer called Guinness, which is a heavy, dark stout that can be found all over the world. Accompany your Guinness with a serving of Black Pudding or Irish sausage with mashed potatoes – it is the sure fire way to warm your belly on those chilly Irish nights ! Fresh fruit and vegetables are also very cheap in Ireland and portion sizes are huge so you will never be without a full stomach.

Fresh air

Dublin is home to Europe's largest park, Phoenix Park, which also contains the Dublin Zoo on its enormous grounds. Within the city itself there are over 2,000 hectares of walking and cycling paths for you to adventure on ! And if this isn't enough open space for you, venture just outside of the city and you will be met with picturesque sweeping green meadows, scattered with white sheep and beautiful old stone cottages.

A sense of humour

The Irish are arguably the world's best jokers, they are known for their humour and love of life. They are eternally optimistic and relaxed and I bet that a day will not pass without you being reduced to a fit of laughter by one of the locals. The Irish spend a lot of their time with their family and this means there is a sense of community and closeness wherever you go. If you're in Dublin for a while as a student intern there is no doubt you will be welcomed as a part of someone's family.

Appropriate clothing

Ireland is cold. All of the time. The warmer months are between June – August, but even then the average temperature barely reaches 19°C so cold weather clothes are a must ! Dublin is on the coast which also means the chilly sea breeze will cool things down even further. Warm jackets, thermal clothing and heavy boots are highly recommended for your time in Dublin regardless of what time of year you are visiting !